Saints' Running Game Currently in Shambles
by Andrew Juge on Oct 2, 2010 6:00 AM CDT
Email
Print
With Pierre Thomas listed as "questionable" for Sunday's game against the Panthers after he practiced on a very limited basis Friday, the big question becomes: Can the Saints get anything out of their running game? Based on how they've done to this point in the season, I'm afraid the answer is no. Through three games, the Saints are averaging an abysmal 2.6 yards per carry. Pierre Thomas leads the way with a laughable 3.2 yards per carry, and he's dealing with a bad wheel. We know Thomas is one good game away from putting bad stats behind him, but the health of the Saints' backs is very concerning. Simply put, the running back position is a mess for the Saints right now.
Mike Bell? The Saints elected to let him go at no compensation when they decline to match an offer made by the Philadelphia Eagles. Lynell Hamilton? Tore his ACL in preseason and is out for the year. P.J. Hill? Tore his ACL in preaseason and is out for the year. Reggie Bush? Broke his leg and is out for at least 3 more weeks, if the Saints are lucky. Pierre Thomas? Sprained his ankle and is questionable for this week's game. Chris Ivory? Strained his knee (MCL I believe, somebody help me out here?) and apparently re-tweaked it last Sunday.
So who does that leave the Saints with for Sunday as 100% healthy? Ladell Betts. My guess is that Ivory and Thomas will both play, but I think it's safe to say Betts will get his chance to show he's still capable of playing in this league. This comes at a really bad time, because the Saints are playing a Carolina Panthers team that knows how to stop a one dimensional offense. The Saints' inability to run through three games has been part injury, part bad play calling, and part lackluster performance. Regardless of who plays this Sunday, two of those three things are at least correctable on a game to game basis. It may be tough to be effective in that department, though, if Ladell Betts is the main back we're trotting out there on first and ten.
At this point I'm curious as to when the Saints start thinking about trading away a 3rd round pick next year for some discontent back in the wrong system? Or when do they consider signing a has been like Larry Johnson as a stopgap until their usual crop of players gets healthy? One thing is for sure, right now the Saints are not getting it done on the ground, and based on the injuries they are currently dealing with it sounds like it's currently a tough problem to fix.
How do you think the Saints' running game performs on Sunday?
35 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Bring out the gimps
The only consolation is that our one dimension is really good and we’re playing Carolina
stop gaps:
Larry Johnson?
Marshawn Lynch?
Discuss.
In Breesus' name we play
by Breesus Christ Superstar on Oct 2, 2010 6:58 AM CDT via mobile reply actions
LJ’s crazy, wants too much money, and is washed up with no burst left.
Mickey said hell no to Buffalo’s demands for Lynch. Rotoworld:
The stumbling block is the Bills’ steep asking price, which no team has been willing to meet. Schefter suggests that it will take more than a third-round pick to pry Lynch away.Oct 19 is the trade deadline.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
not Johnson
Saints have done a good job attracting and signing players with very good attitudes and that buy into and make the team concept a priority.
Saints will be fine- here’s why:
1) Peyton is still trying to make the adjustment re: no Reggie. He had his week to tinker- he will work it out this week.
He knows what he is doing and Brees is right there with him on the game plan.
2) Saints utilize screen passes and swing passes etc to get the ball into the hands of RBs and in doing so this is really a form of the running game- a slight variant. A lot of teams do this. Not saying we don’t have to run the ball straight up, we do/=. But the running stats can be deceiving if you don’t take this into acount.
3) PT and Reggie WILL be healthy sometime soon. Sometimes it sounds like everyone is referring to them as if they pased away. They will be back- we only have to get a couple of weeks from the others.
4) The “Others” wil be fine. Ivory (aside from the 4th and 1 play with a fumble) did good last game and I expect him to be fine. I also have a lot of confidence in Betts. He is an experienced pro who has come thru in the past when needed and now that he is used to our system and practicing with the first team he will be ok.
"I think we agree, the past is over" - George W Bush
"The greatest enemy of knowlege is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge" Stephen Hawking
“Ivory (aside from the 4th and 1 play with a fumble) did good last game”
GAAAAAAAA! 13 yards on 7 carries is “good”? One of those was a 9 yd carry. That means he accrued a whopping 4 yds on the other 6. If you can’t gain 3.34 yards per carry, you’re worthless in the NFL. Ivory’s not even sniffing 2.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
Yeah. Let’s let DeShawn Wynn get in there and show us what he’s got and then get hurt.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
rotoworld.com:
DeShawn Wynn-RB- Saints Oct. 2 – 12:55 pm et
Saints signed RB DeShawn Wynn off the practice squad. Wynn will provide depth behind Chris Ivory and Ladell Betts if RB Pierre Thomas is unavailable.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
Lol
PT and Reggie WILL be healthy sometime soon. Sometimes it sounds like everyone is referring to them as if they passed away.
Breesus Is My Homeboy
They are dead to coldpizza.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
Ha
In Breesus' name we play
by Breesus Christ Superstar on Oct 2, 2010 6:15 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
This will be a game that hopefully Ivory will shine.
Brees should be able to stretch the field here and maybe give Ivory a little more room to get his feet under him and get comfortable.
by saints-fan-in-miss on Oct 2, 2010 9:36 AM CDT reply actions
Even if we are one dimensional
We still have Brees.
Week 4 matchup: Panthers
Week 4 motto: Black pants, burned they must be.
We had Brees in 2007 and 08. That’s not saying much without a running game.
"I was not on the boat in question" -Darren Sharper
by coldpizza on Oct 2, 2010 10:59 AM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
boom rec'd it
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
But wait...
Didn’t we have the number 3 offense in 2007 and the number 1 in 2008?
Who Dat? Who Dat? B*tch I got that flame...
ok i read on here a lot and haven’t figured out the whole “HWSNBN”, but i bet i’ll feel dumb that i couldn’t figure it out, once someone tells me
Don't eat the cheese
Jason David
He Who Shall Not Be Named (and we don’t mean Voldemort)
It's gonna be a great year.
by Hans Petersen on Oct 2, 2010 8:26 PM CDT up reply actions
YIKES!! In bold, even.
You could have given him a clue first.
Now this thread is tainted forever…
Want to go to the Saints vs. Cowboys game? I've got an extra ticket.
If these injuries had to happen at the same time, it's the best time for them to happen.
If Pittsburgh can go 3-0 without a good quarterback, the Saints can beat Carolina, Arizona and Tampa without a good running back.
by Drew-Dat on Oct 2, 2010 11:52 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs
I've solved the case of the missing running game.
No, wait… I solved the case of my missing sock. Sorry. Everyone go on back to your lives.
I'm not calling you a wussy, just your beer. My homebrew, however, is more flavorful and closely related to what men with swords and bad tempers drank 500 years ago, that's all.
Thank you Inspector Clouseau
We can all rest a little easier LOL!
"It's about time that something good like this happened." - Drew Brees
rotoworld.com:
Chris Ivory-RB – Saints Sep. 29 – 2:49 pm et
Saints RB Chris Ivory (knee) has resumed practicing in full. One report had Ivory slightly aggravating his preseason knee injury against Atlanta, but it clearly isn’t a concern. The undrafted rookie appears to have a shot to start Week 4 with Pierre Thomas battling a left ankle sprain.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
i know...
this is a pretty “out there” theory, but does anyone think the saints are taking a good look at deangelo williams? he’s obviously under utilized there in carolina (which baffles me seeing as their passing game sucks), and there are reports of the panthers listening to offers from the packers yesterday and today. with our running corps in the shape it’s in, would it be a terrible idea to try and go after this guy? i have no idea what the price tag would be for a guy like that, but i’m definitely not sold on wynn, barely on betts, and i’m cautiously optimistic on ivory.
Don't eat the cheese
and obviously...
i realize pt23 and bush won’t be injured forever, but man…thomas + bush + williams would = pretty beastly.
Don't eat the cheese
thomas + bush + williams
coldpizza believes PT and Reggie are gone in 2011. If I’m PT, I’m not going to sit and watch PayLoo make D Williams the highest paid RB in the NFL and let him start in front of me. PT’s a free agent in 2011 and Reggie is due $11.8M. It’ll take some negotiating to have all three of them on one team.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
does anyone think the saints are taking a good look at deangelo williams?
I do. But Mickey is a cheap b******. He’d have to really LOVE him to pay him want he’ll want. Or Payton would have to LOVE him and sell him to Mickey. Huge longshot I think.
Rotoworld.com
:DeAngelo Williams-RB- Panthers Sep. 10 – 5:53 pm et
The Charlotte Observer’s Darin Gantt indicated on Twitter Friday that the Panthers may let DeAngelo Williams walk in 2011 free agency. It’s hard to fathom at first glance, but the Panthers are well stocked in the backfield (Jonathan Stewart, Tyrell Sutton, Mike Goodson) and have quite a few impending free agents whose extensions may take precedence. If D-Willy made it to free agency, he could theoretically become the highest paid running back in football. He’s probably hoping for the opportunity.
"Magazines like Mojo and Classic Rock, with their emphasis on classicism and authenticity, are like museums of rock music." - Andy Miller
highest paid running back in football
Want to go to the Saints vs. Cowboys game? I've got an extra ticket.
DAMN IT!
my quote bug is back. :-(
-
I said… only if he goes to a STUPID team… which there are several.
Want to go to the Saints vs. Cowboys game? I've got an extra ticket.
hmmm...
pierre AND reggie gone for 2011? yikes, i don’t look forward to the day we play AGAINST reggie. if that actually happens though and we lose both, i wonder who we get to replace them? i wonder if pay/loo have their eyes on people as it is or if they’re gonna see where they’re at when the time comes…
Don't eat the cheese
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Canal Street Chronicles
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
